REVERE — A banner commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will remain over the entrance to Revere City Hall for the rest of February in honor of Black History Month.
The banner, which was commissioned by Mayor Brian Arrigo and designed by Revere City Hall Communications Associate Jacqueline McLaughlin, was erected in front of Revere City Hall Saturday and displays the pan-African colors of red, black, and green beneath a black and white photo of Dr. King alongside his quote, “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Local activists are celebrating the victory, which members of RevereRecorded — a nonprofit organization that coordinates with local organizers to share stories of Revere’s Black and brown communities — say was the result of a symbolic demonstration in front of City Hall last month.
In the early hours of January 18, residents gathered to commemorate the civil rights activist by re-hanging the city’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) banner, sticking social justice posters between the railings, and leaving behind two messages in chalk.
The first chalk message was a quote by Dr. King, written out above the steps, stating simply, “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The second, written below the steps, read, “Revere has been silent for far too long! Black Lives Matter!”
While the chalk was eventually washed away and the posters and banner removed, local officials later decided to commemorate the month with a new banner celebrating one of America’s best-known civil rights leaders.
Sponsored by City Council President Anthony Zambuto, who said he supported displaying the banner at City Hall because he wanted to encourage Revere youth to learn more about Dr. King’s work, the motion passed unanimously on February 2.
“Unfortunately, with education today, they’re not taught a lot about who this great man was,” he said. “I hope our young people will research this gentleman to learn what he was about.”
RevereRecorded said that in recognition of the BLM supporters who fought for the win by putting up the city’s other banner on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the same Dr. King quote spelled out in chalk was also placed on the bottom of the new Black History Month banner.
“There is a clear and evident impact of (last month’s) demonstration on local politicians,” said a representative with RevereRecorded via email. “The delays (in hanging the banner) are the first indication that all of this was prompted by the demonstration on the 18th. They were rushed to do something, anything really, to make up for the fact local activists did what they should have done on MLK day.
“The second major indication that local politicians were inspired by the act of local activists is that the new banner has the same quote the organizers left behind in chalk.”
However, Zambuto said the banner was not a response to the January demonstration, noting he wrote the motion prior to when the demonstration took place.
“It certainly was not inspired by any protest or rally,” he said. “It was simply to commemorate Black History Month and educate people about who Martin Luther King was.”
Despite its late arrival, representatives for RevereRecorded say the banner is still expected to be taken down after February 28, which Zambuto stated was in observance of a local law that states no object can be affixed to City Hall permanently.
He added that in the future, he hopes the banner will make an appearance at City Hall every February.
Officials have not announced whether there will be any related policy changes to coincide with the symbolic gesture.
“I’m really proud to see Revere residents fight hard for human rights and actually win,” said Chaimaa Hossaini, Vice Chair of the Revere Human Rights Commission. “I just hope to see this support by local politicians become a regular thing: a yearly commemoration of Black History Month, unwavering support for BLM, and real policy change.”
Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected].
